Commercial entity sediment and debris recovery fund

Funding and applications

Funding was available for commercial entities for the removal of cyclone-related sediment and debris.

Applications for funding closed on 31 August with 533 applications received. 427 applications have been approved to mid-November with a total of $36,820,763. There are 30 remaining applications in various stages of processing.

The map below shows where around the rohe the applications came from.

Background

The Government provided $62.6 million to support Hawke’s Bay commercial entities’ recovery following Cyclone Gabrielle.

The Sediment and Silt Recovery Fund was specifically for commercial entities to help clean up their properties and return their businesses to profit. Sediment and debris clean-up activities must have been or will be undertaken between 12 February 2023 and 31 June 2024.

The fund was to support the processing and disposal of sediment and debris from commercial properties and premises. It could also cover the management costs associated with the processing and disposal of sediment and debris, or to pay for services for cleaning up and managing silt and debris. It was not to pay for the purchasing of assets to clear materials, e.g. digger.

The funds were made available to successful applicants on the following basis:

1. Grants of up to $40,000 (calculated based on any previous funding received from the MPI Cyclone Gabrielle Farmer and Grower Recovery Grant and /or the HB Chamber of Commerce Cyclone Gabrielle Business Recovery Grant);

2. Up to $210,000 on a cost-share basis, where this part-funding reflects a 50:50 cost share, increased to 400,000 in mid-August 2023 (where the balance is borne by the Commercial Entity and where the Commercial Entity has not applied any other Crown funding to meet its contribution).

There were some key requirements these commercial entities must have met, such as:

a.  The commercial entity is a viable business both before and after Cyclone Gabrielle occurred;

b.  The commercial entity has commercial premises either leased or owned that is primarily located in Hawke’s Bay;

c.  The commercial premises is immediately recoverable to its pre-Cyclone economic state as a result of the funding, has realistic potential for economic recovery to pre-Cyclone state, or that the sediment and debris accumulated on the Commercial premises poses a significant health, cultural, pest, disease, biosecurity or environmental risk if left unmanaged; and

d.  The funding is only applied to those parts of the commercial premises that is primarily used for the commercial entities’ business activities.